Latest news with #MattZenitz
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
247Sports notes two Spartan defenders as potential breakout candidate in 2025
Michigan State football is gearing up for the 2025 campaign, the second in Jonathan Smith's tenure in East Lansing. While there is a ton of buzz centered around Michigan State's offense and the offensive additions the team made this offseason, but the talk about the Spartans defense has been limited, although it is the unit that could make or break the season in 2025. A notable figure in college football media recognized two Spartan defenders, though. 247Sports national reporter Matt Zenitz has been breaking down the top 25 breakout candidates in each of the four power conferences, and in his Big Ten breakdown, he recognized two Spartan defenders as breakout candidates. Texas State, via Oklahoma, defensive back transfer Joshua Eaton was mentioned, who is expected to be the Spartans best cornerback this season. The second player noted was junior linebacker Jordan Hall. The linebacker has been well known around MSU, but has not quite broke through, but Zenitz sees 2025 as the season that it finally happens. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Cory_Linsner
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma transfer QB commit signs with Northwestern
The Oklahoma Sooners roster movement seemed done after a quiet few weeks as teams turned to summer workouts, but things aren't settled just yet. The Sooners lost a quarterback to the portal on Tuesday. According to a report from 247Sports' Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer, Norman native Gavin Frakes, who committed to Oklahoma in the spring portal window, has instead signed with Northwestern. Frakes initially committed to Oklahoma after spending time with New Mexico State and then Virginia. The Sooners' quarterback spot was solidified in the offseason with the additions of John Mateer, Jett Niu, and Whitt Newbauer to go along with the return of Michael Hawkins Jr. The Sooners' quarterback depth is in a good spot, a year after they were young at the position in 2024. Oklahoma has three players on the roster in Mateer, Hawkins, and Newbauer who have started games at the collegiate level. This time last year, only Arnold had a start under his belt, and that came in the Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona. Oklahoma is deeper and better at quarterback heading into Ben Arbuckle's first year as the offensive coordinator of the Sooners. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
12-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
LSU football loses key recruiting and personnel staffer to NFL organization
LSU football loses key recruiting and personnel staffer to NFL organization According to a report from CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, LSU football's director of player personnel Preston Tiffany is heading to the NFL. The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to hire the former Tiger, who also held the same position at Ole Miss prior to working in Baton Rouge. He joined the LSU staff in February 2024 and is the second recent departure after director of player development Jordan Arcement moved on to an agency. Tiffany spent four years with the Rebels in recruiting and personnel roles. He and current LSU senior associate athletic director Austin Thomas were instrumental in acquiring talent that led to Ole Miss' best year in program history with 11 wins and a No. 9 finish. Both departed Oxford at the end of the 2023 season. Hailing from Aiken, SC, Tiffany attended South Carolina and worked in recruiting and player personnel as a student assistant. During his time under head coach Brian Kelly, Tiffany helped LSU sign a top 10 class and the nation's best transfer portal class.
USA Today
05-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Texas A&M is expected to hire Miami coach with exceptional recruiting background
Texas A&M is expected to hire Miami coach with exceptional recruiting background Texas A&M is currently expected to hire David 'Pop' Cooney in a recruiting related role, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports. Spent the last eight seasons working at Miami, including three years as director of recruiting and the last two as assistant wide receivers coach.… — Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) June 5, 2025 Texas A&M's 2025 football coaching staff looked complete heading into the summer months. Still, according to 247Sports' Matt Zenitz, coach Mike Elko has reportedly snagged one of the top recruiters in the country, as former Miami staffer David "Pop" Cooney will join the Aggie staff ahead of the 2025 season in an unspecified recruiting role. This week, Texas A&M will host a highly talented list of 2026 prospects, including several five-star recruits, as the timing to hire a proven recruiter with an exceptional track record couldn't have been better. This isn't a surprise, given Elko's track record of making staff changes sporadically, which dates back to hiring Lyle Hemphill for the 2025 defensive staff early in the offseason. Concerning two elite prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, Cooney was one of the lead recruiters for five-star wide receiver. LSU commit Tristen Keys, who will take an official visit to Texas A&M over the next two months, while holding a strong relationship with current four-star wide receiver commit Aaron Gregory, who has been receiving strong interest from rival programs, including the Texas Longhorns. As Zenitz notes, Cooney served as Miami's recruiting director for three seasons, while also serving as the program's assistant wide receiver coach. This is a significant boost for Texas A&M's recruiting efforts, especially this week. Other names include former Miami wide receivers Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George, who are both currently on NFL rosters. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: Florida football special teams coach moving on to Houston
One of the special teams' coaches for Florida football is moving on to a new job. According to a report by Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Florida Gators Game Changer coordinator Chris Couch is accepting the special teams coordinator job at Houston. Advertisement The move reunites Couch with Houston coach Willie Fritz, whom he worked under at Tulane from 2016-20. Couch endured some ups and downs in his first two years under head coach Billy Napier as lead special teams' analyst. Under Couch, Florida at times failed to line up correctly, resulting in either 10 players or too many players on the field in changeovers for punts and field goal attempts. During the 2024 offseason, Florida added special teams' coordinator Joe Houston to work with Couch. Houston, a former special teams assistant with the New England Patriots (2020-23) and special teams coach at Iowa State (2016-18), added a new voice with experience. Due to a change in NCAA rules, both analysts were able to work on the field during 2024 fall camp, which resulted in smoother special teams' operation during the 2024 season. Coach joins former UF co-defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong as the second coach to leave the Gators for Houston in the last seven months. Armstrong took over as Houston defensive coordinator last December. Advertisement Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun's Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@ Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators' national championship basketball season in 'CHOMP-IONS!' — a hardcover coffee-table collector's book from The Sun. Details at This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Report: Florida football losing special teams analyst to Houston
